The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-11-23
The JOYS or LIFE
4 Few Nuggets Of Wisdom Abont Our
Home Pets.

L Home fet-
have received letter asking for half
ream OF advice at my lowest rates. Tn
writer, a gentleman Of quiet, refined taste
sedcntary habit and a sparsity Of hair, de
sire 70 cheer up the solitude Of his home b,
introducing a pet, and wishes 70 know Thu
variety Of pct most suitable 10 the tranqui
enjoyment he seeks, together with hints upon
the maintenance aud general care OF the SAM
and all approximate estimate Of the cost.
Pots vary in size and temperament. Th'
tastes Of some men incline them 10 large pet
and Of others 20 small pets
A man inclined TO nabby corpulonce and
wishing % tone up his system and tone dow
his waistband By steady and lnvigoratine
exercise may safely indulge 10 a pet bear
There is nothing know in the entire onima
KINGDOM 50 calculated 10 furnish a man with
athletic pastime "a n we'll developed bear.
Canaries are q lemon coiorel affection bu'
one degree removed fron felony or yellow
fever One pair Of - canaries turned loose
on an unsuspccting family will wrec, more
happiness than a savings bank cashiers vaca.
ton or a fire.
Ii felt that life was not comprise without
song / should endeavor TO purchase music
without the multiplying attachment
had pair Of canarics in June, 1874 In
August had four in October, eight, and by
June, 1875, | had sovcnty-six, and lfty-two
OF these were Of the female species and az
ready on the nest. tried 10 give the birds
away, and tried 20 turn them loose, but all
in vain, and was immersed in hempseed and
misery until one day, in a moment Of dcs-
peration, committed arson in the third de
gree. and had a reodbrd breakfast.
A parrot both satisfies the longing Of a
man for a pet and makes life pleasant for the
neighbors
A bright and active parrot cost about S2O
before he has learned how 70 swear or for
cotton how 70 yell His education being
being valued at about g a word, it can
readily be seen that fluent profanity may
only be expected in birds costing from 500
up. The most economical way for a clergy
man or an elderly maiden lady 10 do Is 20
buy the crude parrot, hasig it out of a win
dow and let it pick up the rudiments Of
strong language from the neighbors
had a parrot once with a green body, a
yellow head and bad eye, and for three
long months he was thought and observ-
ant, and my aunt beneyolently sang "Old
Hundred" 10 him, repeated various texts in
his hearing and In other ways tried TO give
him a wholesome, Christian education. 81
multaneously, small, freckled boy next
door conversed within range Of the parrot,
taking a somewhat different key
Alligators are easily dom,sticated, and are
pleasant pets 10 nave In 3 house with small
children, but have found il just as effective
70 leave rat poison around, artfully spread
upon doughnuts and other del.cacies
The most refined and contemplatiye pet
know is Texan horned frog. 4 horned
frog looks like lizard which has been passed
through rolling machine and then studded
with prickles lie does not sing, and IL is
necessary to pry bis mouth open and ram his
food down in order 70 keep him alive IN this
trying climate, but with these trivial draw
backs he is q pet OF great value.
Horned frogs cost nothing in Arizona, and
may be shipped by mail at the same low
rates as rattlesnakes, scorpions and other
territorial produce
4 healthy horned frog will sleep on his
belly four months without moving and then
may be turned upon biz back, where he will
sleep four more, and this amusing trait en-
dears him 10 his owner and keeps monotony
from the door. Occasionally during the sum
mer he will open his eyes and take a stealthy
review Of his surroundings, but this phe-
nomenon may not be expected 70 occur
Oftener than seven times in four years and,
as the process is entirely n0iseless will nor
disturb even the most sensitive person.
Pets are necessary 10 the higher enjoyment
OF life, but how 10 select IS one of tho most
difficult problems ever presented There are
incompatibles in pets, as in natrimony md
medicines Cats and canarie- do not 60 well
together-or, rather, 60 together too WELL
and the consolidation has little value; and
keeping parrot IN the same cage with a
monkey does not improve either bis morals
or bis plumage should advise any one de
srous Of getting pet which viii brighten
bis dull hours and enliven care 70 procure
either sacred white elephant or a horned
frog. and retire at once 10 bis enjoyment
AL other varieties are fraudulent and I'M
satisfactory. Henry Guy Carleton in New
York World